Greece is giving $1.6 billion to its austerity-weary citizens

Cash-strapped Greeks are getting an early Christmas present.

Greece will distribute over €1 billion ($ 1.2 billion) in surplus government funds to families and pensioners that have been hit by austerity, according to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Another €360 million ($ 422 million) will go to the Public Power Corporation to help ensure that energy prices don’t go up in 2018.